Aquaman #26Review

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Aquaman welcomes a new writer to the fold.

By Jesse Schedeen

Based on Jeff Parker's resume, there was no reason to doubt that Aquaman would be in good hands with the transition from Geoff Johns to Parker. And Aquaman #26 does nothing to dissuade that notion. Fans of the series will find that nothing has fundamentally changed about the tone or direction of the series, and newcomers will find a perfectly sound jumping-on point for the ongoing saga of Arthur Curry.

Parker isn't really one for making overly flashy debuts on his ongoing books, instead letting the big ideas trickle out naturally over time. Aquaman is no exception in that regard. There are signs that political tensions among the Atlantean elite will continue to play a major role in the series, but apart from that, this issue basically boils down to "Aquaman vs. Crab Kaiju." It's a fun way to kick off Parker's run. He's able to showcase the full extent of Aquaman's considerable talents, and we get a good sense of how Parker will handle the dynamic between Aquaman and Mera. Apart from a fairly abrupt ending, it's a solid start all around.

Paul Pelletier's artwork certainly helps smooth the transition as well. Whether the issue focuses on undersea intrigue or epic brawls with giant crabs, Pelletier is able to expertly capture the action and emotion of the story. Unfortunately, there are several fill-in pages from artist Netho Diaz in this issue. Diaz's storytelling is sound, and even on par with Pelletier's at times. But his facial work is a little stiff, making it all too obvious when the issue bounces between the two pencillers.